Ohio Governor Calls for Education Changes

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland today proposed sweeping changes to public education, including an overhaul of the state’s school funding, expansion of the school year by 20 days, elimination of the high school graduation test in favor of requiring all students take the ACT college-entrance test, and steps to improve teacher quality.

“It is absolutely clear to me that simply tinkering with centuries-old education practices will not prepare Ohio’s children for success in college, in the workplace, or in life,” Gov. Strickland told state legislators in his annual State of the State speech in Columbus. “When we do these things, I believe we will have finally and unquestionably met our constitutional obligation to our children.”

The governor said he won’t call for raising taxes, but warned of sacrifice as government programs are reduced and a variety of fees are increased to balance a $50 billion state budget that faces a $7 billion deficit amid an economic recession...